FIRST POST OP REGRETT

In addition to being a comedian just about my entire life I have also been a singer. Classically trained,, since the age of 6.. Singing has since been a HUGE joy in my life and often the ONE thing that has made me truly happy,, even at 400 pounds.. But, I have not sung since surgery in February. Friday night I did.. I met up with some friends at a local bar for Kareoke night… Normally it’s a lot of fun. I go I knock them dead with my singing voice get lots of OOOs and Awwwws. However, this time was different. For the first time in MY LIFE I was awful.. Well not awful as compared to the other people that were there.

Its not that I forgot how…. More like my body just wont let me do it. A singer’s, control pitch, resonance come from the abdomen you use your abdominal muscles to regulate the flow of air over your vocal cords. Suddenly I either don’t have the abdominal strength or I’m just not able to get enough air from my abdomen to control the sound the way I used to..  Is there anyone out there who can relate to this problem??? I suppose “I" should have thought about this before surgery. But, it has TOTALLY caught me off guard and I’m not sure how to deal with it. I mean is that part of my life over now because I had this surgery??? Do I just have to learn to live with it? Or do I need to start seeing a coach again and learn how to use it again? If I have to give up music then I will say that this has to be my low point after surgery.

The opera is not over till the fat ____ sings!!  We all sort of laugh at that line...but there is some truth to it also.  Yes, there is a trade off.  But you would not be able to sing at all 10 years from now, if you were dead from a heart attack or stroke!!  I would get with a voice coach and see what can be done.  Good luck...Brian  PS Maybe you can ask Luciano Pavarotti...wait...he died from obesity... 

Hey man, I completely relate. I can stillsing alright, but my voice gas changed. I don't know if it is caused from my abdominal muscles or the simple fact that my testosterone count has drastically increased. Do some practice on your own and see if you can find your new pitch. If not, then you'll need the coach. You'll get it back but not the same as before. Lots of luck dude!!!

Can you go take a class so they can figure out your range and help you tune the area's you are having difficulty in.  Time to take it back to the bathroom.

 From Feb. to almost August is a long time to not really use those muscles for that purpose.  I know that if I don't keep my voice tuned up then I can't hit the upper registers and hold the notes.  Keep the faith and you'll get back in tune.
Duane

Thank you all for your support... I'm holding on to the hope that I just need to learn to use my instrument in a new way.. I will keep you all up to date.

Have you layed down any tracks? How about a sample?

Many,,,, Nothing more recent then 2003 though. I have a country band that I have traveled with for many years and was hoping and they were hoping that I might be able to get back to that. But, this has kind of put a question on that.

I have been a singer my whole life and I had the same problem during my first year post op.  My best guess is the horemone imballance that we all go through while we are losing so much weight so fast.  Our bodies store extra horemones including estrogen in our fat cells.  When we lose weight they are released, when we lose weight at the high rate that we do after WLS our bodies are bombarded with them and our systems go whacky.  Been uncharactristicaly emotional lately?

I can remember suddenly not having my perfect pitch and then being embarrassed to sing.  I sang in the car only for quite some time, and very badly I might add, then as suddenly as I noticed it go bad, it got better.

I'm sure a year from now you will be back to your old voice.

Thank you for the encouragement.. This sucks totally not being able to do something I never had to really think about....